A Funny Game

[Degha Singh]

http://singh.sikhsoul.com/archives/jan07.html#

A funny game

Monday 01 January 2007

Guru Sahib has given this manukha jeevan (human life). Some ask what is this life about? Why did God create us? Why do bad things happen to good people? This is all part of the wonderful game designed by Waheguru Himself. When Waheguru jee first created the world there was no Maya. This is why everyone got liberated very easily. When the world was created Brahma’s son was sent on it along with other Sadhoos. All they did was Bhagti and therefore got liberated when they died. This is when Maya was created to really test humans as they are born on to this Earth.

bRhmw ibsnu mhysu aupwey mwieAw mohu vDwiedw ]14]

He created Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; He fostered enticement and attachment to Maya. ||14|

Gurbani mentions this game:

kwmu k®oDu loBu mohu jIqhu AYsI Kyl hir ipAwrI ]2]

Conquer sexual desire, anger, greed and worldly attachment; only such a game as this is dear to the Lord. ||2||

Only they are dear to Waheguru who conquer the five thieves. This is the game of life, to know your self, and realise where you are from and where you are going. This realisation takes lifetimes. Once this realisation comes one then begins to play the game of life.

Life

You are all probably wondering why Daas has called the title of this article ‘A funny game.’ The reason for this is because daas thinks this game is not funny in the sense that it is a joke. Daas says it is funny but means it is strange and mysterious. Isn’t it strange how some know of this game of life whilst others are completely wasting their time? Yet these are the people who are the first to blame Waheguru when a terrible event occurs. The reason for this is because of their bad fates. Without doing good deeds they have wasted their time on this world and have not realised the game of life. They have become very far and detached from Waheguru.

Awp kmwxY ivCuVI dosu n kwhU dyx ]

My own evil actions have kept me separate from Him; why should I accuse anyone else?

When one does a bad deed one thinks they can hide it. This maybe true on a worldly level, one might be able to hide it from people around them but there isn’t a single way one can hide doing bad deeds in front of Waheguru. When one does a bad deed it is written down by the Chiter Gupt, the recording angels.

icqR gupqu sB ilKqy lyKw ]

Chitra and Gupat, the recording angels of the conscious and the unconscious, write the accounts of all mortal beings

This is all part of the game of life. We receive benefits and punishments as we do deeds. Doing bad deeds we get punishments, doing good deeds we receive the true fruits of life. One thing to keep in mind is that a Gursikh who stays in the will of Waheguru will receive these punishments and benefits in a short amount of time. So if a Gursikh does a mistake Waheguru jee will make that Gursikh realise the mistake very quickly by giving a punishment. This is the very good fate of a Gursikh because for a person who follows his mind and not the Guru, when they do bad deeds Waheguru jee makes them realise their mistake in other life times or even in the same lifetime but when the mortal is much older. This due to there own fate and doing bad deeds.

Humility

Humility is another part of the game of life. Apa Arpan (getting rid of ego) can only be done if one has humility; this humility only comes through Naam Japna and selfless-seva. But daas wanted to talk about why this is a very strange part of life.

When one goes to the Gurdwara and has in mind that they will do cleaning of shoes; this makes their mind very low. When one performs the seva, ones mind is filled with humility and one starts to think they are the dust of every ones’ feet. But as soon as that person gets up ones mind gets corrupted because as soon

as one gets up ones mind says ‘I cleaned sangats’ shoes today.’ In this state of egoism one looses more then one gained or looses more then they even started with. Daas thinks this is a very strange part of life. The questions arises on how can one attain humility if ones mind only gets ego from it. The answer is given in the Gurbani tuk below.

gur kY igRih syvku jo rhY ]

That selfless servant, who lives in the Guru's household,

gur kI AwigAw mn mih shY ]

is to obey the Guru's Commands with all his mind.

Awps kau kir kCu n jnwvY ]

He is not to call attention to himself in any way.

hir hir nwmu irdY sd iDAwvY ]

He is to meditate constantly within his heart on the Name of the Lord.

mnu bycY siqgur kY pwis ]

One who sells his mind to the True Guru

iqsu syvk ky kwrj rwis ]

- that humble servant's affairs are resolved.

syvw krq hoie inhkwmI ]

One who performs selfless service, without thought of reward,

iqs kau hoq prwpiq suAwmI ]

shall attain his Lord and Master.

ApnI ik®pw ijsu Awip kryie ]

He Himself grants His Grace;

nwnk so syvku gur kI miq lyie ]2]

O Nanak, that selfless servant lives the Guru's Teachings. ||2||

One has to read the above Shabad with a lot of focus to realise what Guru Sahib is saying here. Guru Sahib is saying if you want to do seva, then do it without calling attention to ones self; so people will think you are lower or more of a Gursikh. If one wants to do seva then one must focus there mind entirely to Waheguru Gurmantar. One must remember Waheguru in their heart and remember who they are doing seva for. But important of all it says in the 7th tuk of that pauRi to do seva without a though of reward. In this way one attains the supreme blessing of Wahegurus Darshan. This is a very hard concept to attain but is the only way ones seva will be safal (complete).

siqgur kI syvw sPlu hY jy ko kry icqu lwie ]

Service to the True Guru is fruitful and rewarding, if one performs it with his mind focused on it.

One must have pure focus on Naam when doing seva of any kind and remember not to have any wishes for doing the seva. Daas remembers when Guru Sahib blessed Daas and another Gursikh with a seva which is seemed to be very low and dirty seva but for Gursikhs seems like bathing in gold. After Daas and this Gursikh performed the seva we didn’t have any desires in our minds nor did we have any rewards we wanted, but still Guru Sahib blessed us with a massive reward. Guru Sahib blessed this Gursikh with Panj Piyare dee seva and daas with an amazing Resnbhai experience. All night the resnbhai felt like bliss. When the Naam Raseeiya Gursikhs who done the panj dee seva came out Daas couldn’t stop crying to them because Guru Sahib had been so merciful. This is the power of selfless-seva.

The five thieves

Conquering these five thieves is the game Guru Sahib likes his Gursikhs to play. Guru Sahib wants to see who are the Soormay (warriors) in this world who would battle the five toughest Mahabalis (warriors) known. Only through continuous Naam Abhiyaas through out ones jeevan can one defeat these Mahabalis. And forgetting Naam even for a second is the danger zone in which you let go of your shield and Shastar (weapon). As soon as you let go of Naam your mind will feel vulnerable and you will feel open to these warriors to attack you.

hy Aijq sUr sMgRwmM Aiq blnw bhu mrdnh ]

O emotional attachment, you are the invincible warrior of the battlefield of life; you totally crush and destroy even the most powerful.

gx gMDrb dyv mwnuK´M psu pMKI ibmohnh ]

You entice and fascinate even the heavenly heralds, celestial singers, gods, mortals, beasts and birds.

To daas even this game seems strange. When one walks around thinking they have beat the five thieves of the body that’s when they have lost because that’s when ego has hit them. When we keep even simple rehit, and do Naam Japna at Amritvela and start to make a jeevan, one can easily control the first four of the five thieves. Ego being the last stays in ones jeevan until one has realised that He is me and I am Him, meaning when God becomes you and you become God. When one controls the other four one starts to get ego that they have beaten all of the five thieves. Ego is a very powerful warrior of life in which to realise you have it may take lifetimes, and then when realised even then it will be hard to get rid of it. Guru Sahib has described to us how to defeat this warrior:

haumY dIrG rogu hY dwrU BI iesu mwih ]

Ego is a chronic disease, but it contains its own cure as well.

ikrpw kry jy AwpxI qw gur kw sbdu kmwih ]

If the Lord grants His Grace, one acts according to the Teachings of the Guru's Shabad.

Guru Sahib has given us Naam to defeat this warrior. Guru Sahib has also classed this warrior as a disease.

Only through continuous Naam Abhiyaas can we defeat these warriors. This can only happen if Guru Sahib wills it to happen. We need to learn how to ask Guru Sahib for a Naam Raseeiya Jeevan. We need to ask Guru Sahib for a jeevan in which we can remember his name everything single breathe. In this way there will be no day, no night, no hour, no second for us. Our whole life will revolve around Naam and our next breath. In this state of love we wouldn’t even want to waste one breath without Naam.

[Fauja]

um i dun wanna burst ya bubble or nuttn' i mean excellent post.. but ur first paragraph is wrong according to bani.. people weren't liberated easily b/c there was no maya.. according to bani, on a monday it was jus vaheguru himself in his beauty, then on tuesday he created maya, then the world.. he put maya in charge of this world

so basically, maya was always here.. according to what little i know, the reason it was easier to do bhagti back then (satyug etc) was b/c it wasn't an independant journey between a man and akaal... if one guy messed up, the entire village had to pay for his bad karams so they'd kick his <admin-profanity filter activated> n shytt.. so people were afraid to mess up otherwise he's gonna get in shytt from everyone... and b/c they had so much nimrata in them they wuldnt wanna ruin it for everyone

now, in kalyug every man pays for his own deeds. now the lekha only has ur name on it, nah ur whole village or family or w.e

wicked post tho,

peace

godbless

[Fauja]

found the shabad..

This Shabad is by Guru Amar Daas Ji in Raag Bilaaval on Pannaa 841

iblwvlu mhlw 3 vwr sq Gru 10

bilaaval mehalaa 3 vaar sath ghar 10

Bilaaval, Third Mehla, The Seven Days, Tenth House:

<> siqgur pRswid ]

ik oa(n)kaar sathigur prasaadh ||

One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:

Awidq vwir Awid purKu hY soeI ]

aadhith vaar aadh purakh hai soee ||

Sunday: He, the Lord, is the Primal Being.

Awpy vrqY Avru n koeI ]

aapae varathai avar n koee ||

He Himself is the Pervading Lord; there is no other at all.

Eiq poiq jgu rihAw proeI ]

outh poth jag rehiaa paroee ||

Through and through, He is woven into the fabric of the world.

Awpy krqw krY su hoeI ]

aapae karathaa karai s hoee ||

Whatever the Creator Himself does, that alone happens.

nwim rqy sdw suKu hoeI ]

naam rathae sadhaa sukh hoee ||

Imbued with the Naam, the Name of the Lord, one is forever in peace.

gurmuiK ivrlw bUJY koeI ]1]

guramukh viralaa boojhai koee ||1||

But how rare is the one, who, as Gurmukh, understands this. ||1||

ihrdY jpnI jpau guxqwsw ]

hiradhai japanee japo gunathaasaa ||

Within my heart, I chant the Chant of the Lord, the treasure of virtue.

hir Agm Agocru AprMpr suAwmI jn pig lig iDAwvau hoie dwsin dwsw ]1] rhwau ]

har agam agochar apara(n)par suaamee jan pag lag dhhiaavo hoe dhaasan dhaasaa ||1|| rehaao ||

The Lord, my Lord and Master, is inaccessible, unfathomable and unlimited. Grasping the feet of the Lord's humble servants, I meditate on Him, and become the slave of His slaves. ||1||Pause||

somvwir sic rihAw smwie ]

somavaar sach rehiaa samaae ||

Monday: The True Lord is permeating and pervading.

iqs kI kImiq khI n jwie ]

this kee keemath kehee n jaae ||

His value cannot be described.

AwiK AwiK rhy siB ilv lwie ]

aakh aakh rehae sabh liv laae ||

Talking and speaking about Him, all keep themselves lovingly focused on Him.

ijsu dyvY iqsu plY pwie ]

jis dhaevai this palai paae ||

Devotion falls into the laps of those whom He so blesses.

Agm Agocru liKAw n jwie ]

agam agochar lakhiaa n jaae ||

He is inaccessible and unfathomable; He cannot be seen.

gur kY sbid hir rihAw smwie ]2]

gur kai sabadh har rehiaa samaae ||2||

Through the Word of the Guru's Shabad, the Lord is seen to be permeating and pervading everywhere. ||2||

mMgil mwieAw mohu aupwieAw ]

ma(n)gal maaeiaa mohu oupaaeiaa ||

Tuesday: The Lord created love and attachment to Maya.

Awpy isir isir DMDY lwieAw ]

aapae sir sir dhha(n)dhhai laaeiaa ||

He Himself has enjoined each and every being to their tasks.

Awip buJwey soeI bUJY ]

aap bujhaaeae soee boojhai ||

He alone understands, whom the Lord causes to understand.

gur kY sbid dru Gru sUJY ]

gur kai sabadh dhar ghar soojhai ||

Through the Word of the Guru's Shabad, one understands his heart and home.

pRym Bgiq kry ilv lwie ]

praem bhagath karae liv laae ||

He worships the Lord in loving devotion.

haumY mmqw sbid jlwie ]3]

houmai mamathaa sabadh jalaae ||3||

His egotism and self-conceit are burnt away by the Shabad. ||3||

buDvwir Awpy buiD swru ]

budhhavaar aapae budhh saar ||

Wednesday: He Himself bestows sublime understanding.

gurmuiK krxI sbdu vIcwru ]

guramukh karanee sabadh veechaar ||

The Gurmukh does good deeds, and contemplates the Word of the Shabad.

nwim rqy mnu inrmlu hoie ]

naam rathae man niramal hoe ||

Imbued with the Naam, the Name of the Lord, the mind become pure and immaculate.

hir gux gwvY haumY mlu Koie ]

har gun gaavai houmai mal khoe ||

He sings the Glorious Glorious Praises of the Lord, and washes off the filth of egotism.

dir scY sd soBw pwey ]

dhar sachai sadh sobhaa paaeae ||

In the Court of the True Lord, he obtains lasting glory.

nwim rqy gur sbid suhwey ]4]

naam rathae gur sabadh suhaaeae ||4||

Imbued with the Naam, he is embellished with the Word of the Guru's Shabad. ||4||

lwhw nwmu pwey gur duAwir ]

laahaa naam paaeae gur dhuaar ||

The profit of the Naam is obtained through the Door of the Guru.

Awpy dyvY dyvxhwru ]

aapae dhaevai dhaevanehaar ||

The Great Giver Himself gives it.

jo dyvY iqs kau bil jweIAY ]

jo dhaevai this ko bal jaaeeai ||

I am a sacrifice to the One who gives it.

gur prswdI Awpu gvweIAY ]

gur parasaadhee aap gavaaeeai ||

By Guru's Grace, self-conceit is eradicated.

nwnk nwmu rKhu aur Dwir ]

naanak naam rakhahu our dhhaar ||

O Nanak, enshrine the Naam within your heart.

dyvxhwry kau jYkwru ]5]

dhaevanehaarae ko jaikaar ||5||

I celebrate the victory of the Lord, the Great Giver. ||5||

vIrvwir vIr Brim Bulwey ]

veeravaar veer bharam bhulaaeae ||

Thursday: The fifty-two warriors were deluded by doubt.

pRyq BUq siB dUjY lwey ]

praeth bhooth sabh dhoojai laaeae ||

All the goblins and demons are attached to duality.

Awip aupwey kir vyKY vykw ]

aap oupaaeae kar vaekhai vaekaa ||

God Himself created them, and sees each one distinct.

sBnw krqy qyrI tykw ]

sabhanaa karathae thaeree ttaekaa ||

O Creator Lord, You are the Support of all.

jIA jMq qyrI srxweI ]

jeea ja(n)th thaeree saranaaee ||

The beings and creatures are under Your protection.

so imlY ijsu lYih imlweI ]6]

so milai jis laihi milaaee ||6||

He alone meets You, whom You Yourself meet. ||6||

suk®vwir pRBu rihAw smweI ]

sukravaar prabh rehiaa samaaee ||

Friday: God is permeating and pervading everywhere.

Awip aupwie sB kImiq pweI ]

aap oupaae sabh keemath paaee ||

He Himself created all, and appraises the value of all.

gurmuiK hovY su krY bIcwru ]

guramukh hovai s karai beechaar ||

One who become Gurmukh, contemplates the Lord.

scu sMjmu krxI hY kwr ]

sach sa(n)jam karanee hai kaar ||

He practices truth and self-restraint.

vrqu nymu inqwpRiq pUjw ] ibnu bUJy sBu Bwau hY dUjw ]7]

varath naem nithaaprath poojaa || bin boojhae sabh bhaao hai dhoojaa ||7||

Without genuine understanding, all fasts, religious rituals and daily worship services lead only to the love of duality. ||7||

CinCrvwir saux swsq bIcwru ]

shhanishharavaar soun saasath beechaar ||

Saturday: Contemplating good omens and the Shaastras,

haumY myrw BrmY sMswru ]

houmai maeraa bharamai sa(n)saar ||

in egotism and self-conceit, the world wanders in delusion.

mnmuKu AMDw dUjY Bwie ]

manamukh a(n)dhhaa dhoojai bhaae ||

The blind, self-willed manmukh in engrossed in the love of duality.

jm dir bwDw cotw Kwie ]

jam dhar baadhhaa chottaa khaae ||

Bound and gagged at death's door, he is beaten and punished.

gur prswdI sdw suKu pwey ]

gur parasaadhee sadhaa sukh paaeae ||

By Guru's Grace, one finds lasting peace.

scu krxI swic ilv lwey ]8]

sach karanee saach liv laaeae ||8||

He practices Truth, and lovingly focuses on the Truth. ||8||

siqguru syvih sy vfBwgI ]

sathigur saevehi sae vaddabhaagee ||

Those who serve the True Guru are very fortunate.

haumY mwir sic ilv lwgI ]

houmai maar sach liv laagee ||

Conquering their ego, they embrace love for the True Lord.

qyrY rMig rwqy shij suBwie ]

thaerai ra(n)g raathae sehaj subhaae ||

They are automatically imbued with Your Love, O Lord.

qU suKdwqw lYih imlwie ]

thoo sukhadhaathaa laihi milaae ||

You are the Giver of peace; You merge them into Yourself.

eyks qy dUjw nwhI koie ]

eaekas thae dhoojaa naahee koe ||

Everything comes from the One and only Lord; there is no other at all.

gurmuiK bUJY soJI hoie ]9]

guramukh boojhai sojhee hoe ||9||

The Gurmukh realizes this, and understands. ||9||

pMdRh iQqNØI qY sq vwr ]

pa(n)dhreh thhitha(n)aee thai sath vaar ||

The fifteen lunar days, the seven days of the week,

mwhw ruqI Awvih vwr vwr ]

maahaa ruthee aavehi vaar vaar ||

the months, seasons, days and nights, come over and over again;

idnsu rYix iqvY sMswru ]

dhinas rain thivai sa(n)saar ||

so the world goes on.

Awvw gauxu kIAw krqwir ]

aavaa goun keeaa karathaar ||

Coming and going were created by the Creator Lord.

inhclu swcu rihAw kl Dwir ]

nihachal saach rehiaa kal dhhaar ||

The True Lord remains steady and stable, by His almighty power.

nwnk gurmuiK bUJY ko sbdu vIcwir ]10]1]

naanak guramukh boojhai ko sabadh veechaar ||10||1||

O Nanak, how rare is that Gurmukh who understands, and contemplates the Naam, the Name of the Lord. ||10||1||

[rupinder singh]

this is sum serious interesting stuff! learning lots. thanks

[Jasy]

i agree with teh above post....this is all so beautiful....god knows how much i needed that right now...thank you for posting sumthin so inspiring...Waheguru...it was just beautiful

[Guest Papi]

um i dun wanna burst ya bubble or nuttn' i mean excellent post.. but ur first paragraph is wrong according to bani.. people weren't liberated easily b/c there was no maya.. according to bani, on a monday it was jus vaheguru himself in his beauty, then on tuesday he created maya, then the world.. he put maya in charge of this world

dont get into chakkar of days veer